Valve-operating mechanism.



I C. E. ITTNER & C. .A. SMITH.

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. I915.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917,

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v V'ALVE-OPERATIN'G MECHANISM.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Jan. 2, 1917.

Application filed. July 2, 1915. 1 Serial No. 37,680.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES E. ITTNER and CHARLES A. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Opcrating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in valve operating mechanism to control the admission of water to tanks and has particular reference to a float-controlled valve mechanism for flush tanks.

One object of the invention is to provide operating mechanism of improved construction and operation whereby to facilitate the movement of the valve both during the opening and the closing thereof.

Another object is to provide an improved construction of valve-operating mechanism wherein a comparatively light and small weight may be employed to aid in closing the valve. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of weight lifting and valve opening mechanism for valves that open against the water that is under comparatively high service pressure.

A still further object is to provide an improved adjustable construction of mechanism whereby the period for cutting off the H inlet of water to the tank may be varied and thereby regulate the quantity of water tobe carried in the tank ready for the flushing operation, and f Another object is to improve theconstruction of float and float-rod. f I

With these, and other objects in view, the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,-

Figure 1, shows a vertical sectional elevation through a portion of a flush'tank in which the improved valve operating mechanism is shown in side elevation, and in the operated position. Fig.2, illustratesa vertical sectional detail through the said mechanism,-the section being taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, shows the improved mechanism in side elevation and in the position to hold the valve in the cut-off condition. Fig. 4, illustrates the same in top plan. Fig. 5, shows the adjustable trip le ver in perspective detail. Fig. 6, illustrates the detached weight lever, and Fig. 7, shows a sectional detail of the connection between the float and float-rod.

Iteferring to the drawingv numerals, 8, deslgnates a flush tank from the bottom of which a tubular valve casing 9, projects upwardly into the tank. The lower end of this casing is provided with a threaded nipple 10, that projects throughan ope'ningin the tank bottom and is held therein by means of a nut 11, in substantially a well-kn0wn manner. In practice the water, supply pipe is connected to the nipple 10, so that the in- I terior valve chamber 12, inthe casing 9, is

always in communication with the supply p ipe. At the upper end, the casing 9, carries a head 13, with a chamber 14, therein and also with a port 15, having a valve seat 16, directly over and communicating with the valve chamber 12, below it. The head 13, also has a bearing opening 17, at one side with a circular wall 18, projecting outi wardly therefrom so as to form'an annular packing chamber at the outer side ofthe bearing opening. A horizontal rock shaft 19, has bearing in the opening 17, and is provided with an annular flange 20, beveled atthe outer side and having its'inner side seating against the wall-around the said bearing. opening, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, of the drawing. A tubular sleeve 21, fits overlthe rock shaft 19, and has a threaded inner. end that engages thecircular wall 18, so as to compress a packing 22, that may be interposed between the inner end of the sleeve. and the annular flange 20, on the rock-shaft whereby .to prevent leakage around the shaft. The extreme outer end 23, of the rock-shaft is angular in cross-section, and is preferably slightly tapered, for a purpose presently to be explained; The inner end of said rock-shaft has an eccentric pin 24, that extends cross-wise of the chamber 14, and also crosswise of the part 15, below it, so that the upper end of a valve stem 25, may-pivotally'engage said eccentric pin and. permit the lower end of said stem to hang pendantly therefrom. The lower end of the valve stem projects through the port 15, and carries a valve body 26, that has a pendant position in the valve chamber 12, below the valveseat 16.

In Fig. 2, the eccentric pin 24, is in the lowest position, consequently the valve stem 25, is lowered and valve 26, is depressed be low valve seat 16, so that port 15, is wide open,the valve opening against the service pressure in the valve chamber 12. Water will therefore pass up from chamber 12,.

through port 15, into chamber 14, and discharge from the latter through a down- 'wardlyprojecting nozzle 27, that is provided at one side of the head 13.

' ing 30, therethrough that conforms to the shape of the rock-shaft endso as to rigidly engage the latter,.a screw 31, holding the lever on the end of saidshaft. This lever :28, extends laterally from the rock-shaft end and carries a weight 32, that'is adjustably secured thereto by means of a wing nut 33. The pivot-end of the lever is provided with a cam-face 34, at one end of which latter there is a notch 35, so that a pawl 36, pivotally sustained between lugs 37, that project from the head 13, may-enter said levernotc'h 35, when the latter is in the elevated position, shown in Fig. 1, and hold said lever in such position, at which time the valve 26, is open. A trip lever 38, has a sleeve 39, atone end, which latter slips onto the outer end of sleeve 21, and rocks freely thereon. This sleeve-end of the trip lever has position at the inner side of actuating lever 28, and is also provided with a cam face 40, that has position beneath the pawl 36, as clea rly shown in Figs. 2 and 4 ofthe drawing.

The free end of the trip lever carries a trip arm 41, which latter projects forwardly from the lever has a. laterally turned end 42. This trip arm isadjustably secured with respect to the lever so that the end 42, thereof may be positioned farther from or closerto the end of the lever to vary the period of its operation, for a p'urpose presently to be explained. Tnth'e present instance this adjustment is effected by means of a slot 43, and a wing nut 44.

Operation of the mechanism above described, is effected by means of a float 44, and a float-rod 45, the latter having a bifurcated end '46, that is pivotally connected to a lug 47, on the head 13. The float rod extends laterally from the head 13, and under the laterally-turned end 42, of the trip arm, so the latter may rest thereon, as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. We prefer to employ a hollow glass ball as a float because it is not subject to corrosion and is therefore more durable than'the ordinary metal ball float. in the present instance weprovide the glass ball with sockets 48, at diametrically. opposite sides and adjacent to said sockets we form a short glass lug 49, on the circumference with a short radial groove 50, therein so that the arms 51, of the floatro'd may seat in said radial grooves to pre vent rotation of the ball while the extreme ends 52, of said arms may turn inwardly and enterfthe sockets 48, as shown in Fig.

7 7 of the drawing. While only one socket 48, and one float arm 51, are shown in the drawing it is to be understood that two of each will be employed.

A segment arm 53, has one end attached to the float rod 45, and curves downwardly and then upwardly under the circular wall 18. The upwardly-projecting free end of this Segment arm is provided with a stem 54, that projects laterally under the actuating' lever 28, and engages the under side of said lever when the float ball 44, moves "downwardly in the tank and thereby raises said actuating lever to rock the shaft 19, and push the valve-stem 25, and valve 26,

' downwardly.

In practice the outlet of water from the tank is commonly efiected by means of a valve device and a chain for operating the valve, neither of which is shown in the present case, but as the water in the tank lowers, the float will also descend. As the float and float rod move downward, the free end of segment arm 53, will swing upwardly and engage the lever 28, thereby pushing the latter up and effecting a rotation of the rock shaft 19. The rotation of this shaft on the upward movement of lever 28-, is such as to push valve stem 25, and valve 26, down against the pressure of the water in the valve chamber 12, and although that pressure may be considerable in some instances, the weight ofthe ball and float rod is suflicient to; effect this operation. When lever 28, is elevated, pawl 36, will drop into notch35, and lock the lever in the raised position and, of course, lock the valye 23, open so that water may enter the tank from chamber 12, through port 15, chamber 14, and through nozzle 27. As the tank refills, the float ball rises, carrying float rod 45, with it. During the upward movement of the float rod the end42, of the trip arm .41, is engaged and cam surface 40, of trip.

lever 38, presses against the under side of pawl 36, and thereby raises the latter from notch 35, in lever 28, whereupon the latter will fall and rock the shaft to quickly close the valve,the latter being aided in this closing movement by the presence of water in the chamber 12. By adjusting the length of arm 41, with respect to cam '40,the -opera- 'tion of the latter on the pawl 36, may be made faster or slower,-if faster, the valve will close earlier and a lower depth of water will be maintained in the tank, and if slower, a greater depth of water will be attained in the tank before the valve'i's moved to cut off the water.

Having described our invention, what we 1. The combination with a casing having valve in the casing between the supply 'connection and the discharge opening and said valve being actuated by the rock shaft; a float-rod entirely exterior to the casing and having one end pivoted independently of the rock shaft and provided at its other end with a float; means actuated by the downward swinging movement of the float-rod to rock the shaft and open the valve; means for locking the rock-shaft in position to hold the valve open and means actuated by the upward swinging movement of the float rod to release the locking means and allow the rock-shaft to turn and close the valve.

2. The combination with a casing having a supply connection and a discharge opening of a valve in the casing between the supply and discharge opening; a rock-shaft extending into the casing; a reciprocating valve-stem having one end connected to the valve and its other end connected with the rock shaft; a lever connected to the rock shaft for normally holding the latter in position to keep the valve closed; a float rod having one end pivotally sustained independently of the rock shaft; means movable with the float rod to engage the lever and move the rock shaft to open the valve as the the float rod moves downward; means for locking the lever and rock shaft in position to keep the valve open and means actuated by the float rod for releasing the locking means.

3. The combination with a casing having a water supply connection and a discharge opening, of a valve in the casing between the supply and the discharge opening; a

horizontal rock shaft; a sleeve on said rock shaft; an actuating lever rigidly connected to the outer end of the rock shaft; a locking member to hold the actuating lever in one position; a trip lever pivotally engaging the sleeve and to trip the locking member; a float rod pivoted to one side of the rock shaft and engaging the trip lever and a seg-.

ment arm carried by the float rod for engaging the actuating lever.

4. The combination with a casing having a water supply connection and a discharge opening, of a valve in the casing between the supply and the discharge opening; a sleeve extendin horizontallly from the casing; a rock sha passing through the sleeve and having its inner end connected with the valve and its outer end projecting from the sleeve; an actuating lever rigidly connected to the outer projecting end of the rock shaft; a trip lever pivotally mounted on the sleeve; a locking device operated by the trip lever; a float rod pivotally connected to the casing at one side of the rock shaft and a segment arm carried by the float rod and having its free end movable into engagement with the actuating lever.

5. The combination with a casing having a water supply connection and a discharge opening, of a valve in the casing between the supply and discharge opening; a sleeve extending horizontally from the casing; a rock-shaft passing through the sleeve and having its inner end connected with the valve and its outer end projecting from the sleeve; an actuating lever rigidly connected to the outer end of the rock shaft; a trip lever pivotally mounted on the sleeve; .1 float rod pivoted below the trip lever and sustaining the free end of the latter; an arm carried by the float rod and movable into engagement with the actuating lever and a locking pawl in the path of the trip lever to engage and hold the actuating lever.

'6. The combination with a casing having a water supply connection and a discharge opening, of a valve in the casing; a stationary sleeve extending horizontally from the casing; a rock shaft extending through the stationary sleeve and having its inner end connected with the valve and its outer end projecting from the sleeve; an actuating lever rigid on the projecting end of the rock shaft; locking-means to hold the actuating lever in one position; a trip lever having a sleeve that loosely fits the stationary sleeve; an arm adjustably connected to the trip lever and a float rod movable into engagement withthe adjustable arm.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of witnesses.

CHARLES E. ITTNER. CHARLES A. SMITH.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. SMITH, MASON SMITH, HARVEY C. JoNEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of ratents, Washington, D. C. 

